RU173502U1 - PROTECTIVE MEDICAL MASK - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to protective medical masks. The mask comprises a body with fastening means on the face of the mask carrier, and a bactericidal chamber in the front face of the body. The bactericidal chamber is equipped with an inlet filter and an ultraviolet (UV) radiation source located inside the chamber and connected to the power supply unit. The source of UV radiation is made in the form of a small amalgam discharge lamp. The inner surface of the bactericidal chamber is made of material reflecting UV radiation. Inside the chamber there is a partition made of a material that is transparent to UV radiation. An air filter made of a material that absorbs UV radiation is installed at the output of the bactericidal chamber. Effect: increase bactericidal effectiveness, reduce energy consumption and simplify the design of the protective mask.

Description

The utility model relates to protective face masks and can be used as individual protection of the mask wearer and others from viral and bacterial infections transmitted by airborne droplets.

The main criterion for the effectiveness of the mask is considered reliable protection against viral and bacterial infections transmitted by airborne droplets. At the same time, ensuring comfortable conditions of use - the ease and convenience of the mask, ease of use.

Existing masks only partially protect against direct entry of a bacterial infection into the body and are not designed to protect against viruses, since viruses are able to penetrate through microscopic holes.

Masks made of cloth or paper can protect for 2 hours until damp.

Some of them provide for the impregnation of filters with antibacterial compounds (extracts of onions, garlic, and other components) and thus have a slight bactericidal effect that lasts for several hours. The use of these compounds is uncomfortable and can cause allergies or asthma attacks.

As a rule, masks are disposable and require special disposal.

There are many technical solutions aimed at increasing the efficiency of traditional gauze and paper masks.

For example, a medical mask (SU 1590071, A61F 13/12, 1990), containing a filter layer of a special filter material, which is subjected to additional very complex processing to improve the filtering properties. The disadvantage of the mask is the high complexity in the manufacture and maintenance of its qualities.

Known medical mask (patent RU 2127619, IPC A62B 18/02, 20.03.1999) containing a filter layer of filter material impregnated with an antiseptic that is not contraindicated for the mucous membrane, for example, octenisept. The disadvantage of this technical solution is the limited functionality of the mask.

A medical mask is also known (patent RU 92336, IPC АВВВ 18/02, 03/20/2010) containing a filter layer of filter material and a gas filter layer fixed to the filter layer with small cavities between the layers with gas filter means placed in them, while As a gas-filtering agent, small-sized particles of activated carbon are used.

The disadvantage of this technical solution is also the relatively narrow functionality, since it does not allow protection against a wider variety of pathogenic microorganisms.

Medical masks are also known (for example, patent RU 137861 and others), in which antimicrobial filtering layers or their systems of various configurations are coated with small-sized or silver nanoparticles.

The main disadvantage of them is still their low bactericidal efficacy (an indicator of a decrease in microbial contamination, equal to the ratio of the number of deaths to the number of those who were before exposure), since

- firstly, the spectrum of silver does not apply to all pathogenic microorganisms;

- secondly, silver particles cannot perniciously affect microorganisms remotely. Contact is required for a certain time, different for different microorganisms.

From this position, inactivation of microorganisms by ultraviolet (UV) radiation is attractive.The radiation with wavelengths of 240-270 nm has the most effective destructive effect, and the maximum efficiency falls on the range of 250-265 nm, where the peaks of the DNA and RNA bands of microorganisms are located.

The individual mask according to patent No. 40847 is known, in which the disinfecting element is made in the form of an ultraviolet LED with a power supply unit that generates a radiation stream (constant or pulsating) that inactivates viruses and bacteria in the air passing for breathing.

A similar principle of disinfection of inhaled air is used in the well-known personal protective equipment against viral infection according to patent No. 2404816, in which the destruction of viruses is also carried out by ultraviolet radiation.

Without analyzing the other disadvantages of the mentioned devices, in which the disinfected air is disinfected by UV radiation of LEDs, we immediately note that they are characterized by extremely low bactericidal effectiveness (less than 0.1).

Closest to the set of essential features of the claimed utility model is the "Individual filter mask with bactericidal air treatment on emitting semiconductor elements" according to patent RU No. 94421, IPC A41D 13/11, publ. 05/27/2010.

The mask body, made of rubber or plastic, covers the mouth and nose of a person, and has a free volume near the mouth and nose. The housing has a round hole in the front face, made in the form of a thin-walled cylindrical tube into which an annular board with LEDs is inserted, the luminous flux of which is directed inward toward the hole. To protect against dust and smoke particles from the outside, the cylindrical pipe is provided with a thread on which a second pipe is screwed, the inner space of which is filled with filter substances.

In addition, there are mask options with additional LEDs emitting in the range of 620-680 nm and 820-890 nm and a pulsed multi-channel switch that allows you to turn on and off various combinations of LEDs. There are options with a valve with electrical contacts that works when inhaled and exhaled, and, accordingly, each time when activated, it turns on the LEDs.

In a variant of the technical solution, a valve is also provided that freely exposes the irradiated air to the outside when exhaling.

The device according to patent No. 94421 has disadvantages, of which the most serious are associated with the use of UV LEDs as a source of bactericidal radiation:

1. Low bactericidal effectiveness of the mask due to the inability to set the number of LEDs in the mask, which provide the volumetric dose of bactericidal radiation necessary for inactivation. For example, for inactivation with an efficiency of 0.999 influenza virus (volumetric dose of which is 385 J / m ³ ), the required number of LEDs is 640 pcs. (the most powerful LEDs today with a maximum radiation of 265 nm have a radiation power of 150 microwatts).

We emphasize once again that the maximum emission of these LEDs is only 265 nm and the half-width of the emission band of ultraviolet LEDs is on average 10-12 nm. Thus, a significant part in the emission spectrum goes beyond the boundaries of the most effective (in the bactericidal aspect) section with a wavelength of 260 nm and LEDs will need about 20% more.

In addition, the LED is an almost point emitter and without additional reflectors and diffusers radiates only in one direction, and the maximum radiation angle for UV LEDs is only 140 degrees. Therefore, to create a uniform stream of ultraviolet radiation of sufficient intensity, an even greater number of LEDs will be required.

As a result, about 800 pieces are needed.

2. The current consumed only by LEDs will be 24A and, taking into account losses on the limiting resistor, a car battery is needed for the mask to work for 2 hours, which is unacceptable for a wearable mask.

3. More than 90% of the electrical energy consumed by the LED is released as heat in the LED crystals. This heat (about 160 watts) should be removed from the inside of the mask. This greatly complicates the design of the mask.

4. Placing such a number of LEDs inside a limited volume of the mask is problematic, and installation is complicated and unreliable (given the dependence of the reliability coefficient of the system on the number of its elements).

5. The price of UV LEDs in the 260 nm range is very high and even for non-lead structures is about a thousand rubles apiece.

Other disadvantages relate to the design of the mask, to the choice of LEDs and their power scheme:

1. The location of the LEDs around the perimeter of the circle does not provide uniform illumination, and therefore the ubiquitous inactivation of viruses, bacteria and other infectious agents inside the cylinder.

2. Part of the radiation not absorbed by microorganisms (and this is approximately 99%, according to the evaluation of the effective cross section of microorganisms at their usual concentrations during the flu epidemic), is mostly absorbed by the walls of the chamber.

3. The use of two pipes with threads (for mounting the board with LEDs and placing the filter) complicates the design of the mask and makes it heavier.

4. A decrease in the supply voltage as the mask is used leads to a decrease in the current through the LEDs and, accordingly, their radiation energy. This reduces the effectiveness of disinfection and poses a threat of infection to the wearer of the mask and others.

5. When reducing the supply voltage to a value less than the voltage drop on the LED, that is, when the LEDs do not emit at all, the user does not know about it and endangers the infection of himself and others.

6. The continuous operation time of the mask between changing the battery or recharging the battery is reduced by about 25-40% due to the loss of electrical energy when powering the LEDs through the limiting resistor.

Thus, the disadvantages of the prototype masks are: low bactericidal efficiency, high energy consumption, due to the low efficiency of UV-LEDs of the 260 nm range, design complexity and high cost.

The technical problem solved by the claimed utility model is the creation of a protective mask design that provides a volumetric dose of inactivating radiation of the order of 500-1000 J / m ³ , which provides reliable protection of the mask carrier and surrounding from pathogenic microorganisms transmitted by airborne droplets, while ensuring acceptable economic mask indicators.

The technical result of the utility model is to increase bactericidal efficiency, reduce energy consumption and simplify the design of the protective mask.

The specified technical result is achieved in that in a protective medical mask containing a housing with fastening means on the face of the mask carrier and a bactericidal chamber in the front face of the housing, equipped with an inlet filter and an ultraviolet radiation source located inside the bactericidal chamber and connected to the power supply unit, according to the useful model of the source of ultraviolet radiation is made in the form of a small amalgam discharge lamp, while the inner surface of the bactericidal chambers made of a material reflecting UV radiation inside the chamber dividing wall is installed from a material transparent to ultraviolet radiation, and the output chamber germicidal air filter installed, made of a material absorbing UV radiation.

In addition, the bactericidal chamber is made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, the partition is installed on the side of its lower side parallel to the lamp, and the air filter is installed on the rear side of the parallelepiped.

In this case, the lamp is installed at a distance equal to 2/3 of the height of the parallelepiped from its lower edge, and the partition is installed at a distance equal to 1/3 of the height of the parallelepiped from its lower edge.

The bactericidal chamber can also be made in the form of a cylinder along the axis of which a lamp is installed, the partition being made up of two coaxially mounted shells mounted on opposite camera bases, each of which is made of a material that is transparent to ultraviolet radiation.

The technical result of the utility model is that:

- a small-sized amalgam discharge lamp with a maximum radiation at a wavelength of 253.7 nm (hereinafter for short, “UV lamp” or simply “lamp”) provides a volume dose of inactivating radiation of the order of more than 1000 J / m ³ , which allows reliable protection of the mask carrier and surrounding from all types of pathogens transmitted by airborne droplets;

- provides a disinfection mode of microorganisms that does not depend on the state of the voltage of the power source, up to a decrease in its value to 1.5 V. In the prototype, as the battery voltage decreases, the current through the LEDs decreases and, accordingly, the bactericidal effectiveness of the mask decreases;

- the protective effectiveness of the mask is increased, since the introduction of a light and sound alarm when the lamp goes out prevents infection of the mask carrier and those around it with an infection;

- significantly (more than 200 times) reduced power consumption and, accordingly, increases the duration of continuous operation of the mask;

- it is possible to use low-voltage power supplies (with a voltage greater than 1.5 V), which allows the use of small-sized large-capacity batteries. In the prototype, you can use power sources only with a voltage greater than the forward voltage of the LED. For example, for a LED with a direct voltage of 6.5 V (typical for UV LEDs), you cannot use a battery (battery) with a voltage of 6.3 V;

- provides the ability to fully use the resource of the power source. In the prototype, when the battery voltage drops below the direct voltage of the LED, it goes out, despite the fact that the battery life is far from exhausted.

The utility model, characterized by the above set of essential features, at the filing date of the application is not known in the Russian Federation and abroad and meets the requirements of the criterion of "novelty."

The utility model can be implemented industrially using known technical means and meets the requirements of the criterion of "industrial applicability".

The essence of the utility model is illustrated by graphic materials, where in FIG. 1 shows a general view of a face shield; in FIG. 2 and 3 - remote element A in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the bactericidal chamber, respectively, in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped (Fig. 2) and a cylinder (Fig. 3).

Protective medical mask contains a housing 1 with a front part covering the nose, mouth and lower part of the chin of the mask carrier (not shown). The case is made of rubber, silicone or elastic plastic. It is held on the face with a belt that has a fastener with a latch.

A bactericidal chamber 2 is mounted in the front face of the casing, inside of which there is a UV radiation source - a small-sized bactericidal amalgam lamp 3. The maximum radiation of the lamp (and about 90% of all emitted energy) falls at a wavelength of 253.7 nm. With a power consumption of 2 W, the total power of its radiation is about 1.2 W, and the power of bactericidal radiation is about 1 W. This radiation power is enough to inactivate in the bactericidal chamber a mask, for example, influenza virus and other viruses and bacteria with an efficiency of 0.999. The ignition and burning voltages of the lamp are 32 and 20 V, respectively, which eliminates the risk of electric shock.

The inner surface 4 of the bactericidal chamber 2 has a coating that reflects UV radiation. If the camera body is made of metal, the function of the reflective coating can be performed by the polished inner surface of the camera. Due to repeated reflection from the walls of the chamber, the efficiency of using radiation increases, and hence the bactericidal effectiveness of the mask.

The bactericidal chamber is equipped with an inlet filter 5, which mechanically detains part of the pathogens, and an outlet air filter 6, made of a material that does not allow UV radiation to prevent lamp radiation from entering the mask user (this property has the majority of fine-fiber filter materials used for products personal respiratory protection).

A partition 7 is made inside the bactericidal chamber, made of a material that is transparent to UV radiation (for example, from uviole or quartz glass, lithium fluoride).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the bactericidal chamber 2 is made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, the partition 7 is mounted on the side of its lower face parallel to the lamp, and the filter 6 is mounted on the rear face of the parallelepiped. The width of the partition is equal to the width of the chamber, and the length is about 2/3 of the length of the parallelepiped. In a preferred embodiment, the lamp 3 is installed at a distance equal to 2/3 of the height of the parallelepiped from its lower edge, and the partition 7 - at a distance equal to 1/3 of the height of the parallelepiped from its lower edge.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the bactericidal chamber 2 is made in the form of a cylinder, along the axis of which the lamp 3 is mounted, the partition being made up of two coaxially mounted shells 7 mounted on opposite camera bases, while the shells are made of a material that is transparent to UV radiation. This geometry of the bactericidal chamber allows to increase the area of the inlet filter 5 located along the perimeter of the base of the cylinder, which quickly becomes clogged with dust, smoke particles, drops, etc.

Partitions 7 increase the transit time of the inhaled air through the chamber 2 and thereby increase the bactericidal radiation dose equal to the product of the bactericidal radiation flux by the exposure time.

The UV lamp 3 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 8, mounted, for example, on the occipital part of the mask body, using a belt 9.

The power supply unit 8 is removable and consists of a constant voltage source (battery or accumulator) and a known power circuit for discharge lamps at an increased frequency, equipped with an alarm circuit in the absence of current through the lamp (see, for example, Radio magazine, 2000, No. 4 , p. 55, Kobets V. "Adjustable voltage converter for LDS").

Use the mask as follows.

Initially, plugs of the connecting cable are inserted into the connectors on the bactericidal chamber 2 and in the power supply unit 8, turn on the power supply unit and, by the presence of a luminescent glow in the signal window of the mask (not shown), make sure that the mask is working. Then they turn off the power, put on a mask on the face and fix it on the face with the help of fastening elements (not shown), so that the bactericidal chamber is in the area of the respiratory organs - the nasal-oral region.

Then include food. When the power is turned on, the lamp begins to emit ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 253.7 nm, which, as you know, inactivates viruses and bacteria.

Inhaled air passes through a filter 5, on which moisture drops and particles of dust, smoke, etc. are retained. and through a bactericidal chamber, where the ultraviolet light of a lamp inactivates viruses and bacteria present in the passing air.

In the bactericidal chamber 2, the passing air goes around the partitions 7, which increase the duration of irradiation, which helps to increase the bactericidal effectiveness of the mask. Moreover, multiple reflection of radiation from the walls of the chamber also contributes to an increase in the bactericidal effectiveness of the mask. Further, air is drawn in by the nose or mouth into the lungs through the filter 6, the purpose of which is to prevent the ultraviolet radiation from entering the body parts that are under the mask. When exhaling, air from the lungs makes a return journey through the bactericidal chamber 2, and the exhaled air will also be disinfected.

Claims (4)

1. A protective medical mask containing a housing with fastening means on the face of the mask carrier, and a bactericidal chamber in the front face of the housing, equipped with an inlet filter and an ultraviolet radiation source located inside the bactericidal chamber and connected to the power supply unit, characterized in that the ultraviolet radiation source made in the form of a small amalgam discharge lamp, while the inner surface of the bactericidal chamber is made of a material that reflects ultraviolet and radiation which is installed inside the chamber dividing wall from material transparent to ultraviolet radiation, and the output chamber germicidal air filter installed, made of a material absorbing UV radiation. 2. The mask according to claim 1, characterized in that the bactericidal chamber is made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, the partition is installed on the side of its lower face parallel to the lamp, and the air filter is installed on the rear face of the parallelepiped. 3. The mask according to claim 2, characterized in that the lamp is installed at a distance equal to 2/3 of the height of the parallelepiped from its lower edge, and the partition is installed at a distance equal to 1/3 of the height of the parallelepiped from its lower edge. 4. The mask according to claim 1, characterized in that the bactericidal chamber is made in the form of a cylinder along the axis of which a lamp is installed, the partition being made up of two coaxially mounted shells fixed on opposite camera bases, each of which is made of a material transparent to ultraviolet radiation.

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